Morrison and Smartt Station residents will have a chance to voice their opinions regarding the relocation of convenience centers in their communities at an upcoming Health and Welfare Committee meeting June 2.

In December, Sanitation Department director Josh Roberts informed the committee the railroad was unaware they were using their property for a dump site. Earlier this month, Commissioner Steven Helton told the Health and Welfare Committee that the railroad wants the convenience centers off railroad properties.

The Morrison center has some leakage issues that are unable to be fixed due to the railroad owning the property and the Smartt Station Center is a safety hazard and is also on railroad property.

Commissioner Blaine Wilcher wants public input on the situation.

“This meeting will be an opportunity for citizens of Morrison and Smartt to voice their opinions on the issue of losing convenience centers in their area. It will also allow the committee to discuss alternatives, etc.,” said Wilcher.

One option Roberts and the commissioners have discussed is building a combined convenience super center on a piece of land the county owns in Mt. View Industrial Park. However, an exception would have to be made to industrial park bylaws to allow a convenience center to locate there.

Roberts, Helton and Commissioner Carlene Brown attended the monthly meeting of the Industrial Development Board last week and board members expressed reluctance at relaxing industrial park regulations to allow a dump.

Morrison Mayor Sue Anderson was also in attendance and said she wants the convenience center to stay where it is. County Executive Jimmy Haley was at the meeting too and he said the state could come in and padlock the current Morrison Convenience Center because of the leakage getting into a nearby stream.

The public input meeting will be June 2 at the Morrison Ruritan Building, 121 W. Maple Street, and will begin at 6 p.m.